[Sorcerer] dX = play style Y?

[Valamir]

All of this discussion is rather moot, because really the die type (assuming all dice for a single roll are the same size) doesn't make THAT much of a difference.

With a lower die size there will be a greater tendency for the high die of each roll to tie, causing one to have to look at the next dice in succession.  What this means is that over time and many rolls the extra ties will tend towards fewer net successes.  However, not significantly fewer.

This question has come up in the past and with a little searching you can probably uncover some of the threads where the actual statistical crunching has been done.

But rolling a different die size for different scene sizes isn't going to give you that mechanically reinforced sense of added drama you're thinking of.  The net difference won't be noticable enough to really matter.

[Robert Bohl]

over time and many rolls the extra ties will tend towards fewer net successes.  However, not significantly fewer.

This question has come up in the past and with a little searching you can probably uncover some of the threads where the actual statistical crunching has been done.

Really?  I'd love to see this.  I'll go looking.  If true, then obviously you're right.  However, I have a hard time believing that rolling 5d20 in combat isn't going to result in a significant difference from rolling 5d4.

[jrs]

RobNJ,

Here are a few links to older topics to get you started.  I believe only the first one talks specifically about Sorcerer.  I'm certain I'm missing other relevant topics.  If you want to search for more, I recommend narrowing searches on statistical probability of dice mechanics by searching for the authors "Walt Freitag" or "Mike Holmes".

http://www.indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=7628">Dice probabilities (split from New Review)
http://www.indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=2695">Mike's Standard Rant #5: The Myth of Opposed Rolls
http://www.indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=3716">Nonstandard Rant: Opposed rolls ARE more random, dammit!
http://www.indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=875">Call for Probability Formulas

Julie

<minor edit for clarity>

[Valamir]

Yeah, that first one was the one I was remembering, Julie, thanks.

As I noted there, there is a difference and it is measureable.  

But I think its not likely to be a big enough difference to be worth trying build a house rule around.